Bulk display self service bin unit

ABSTRACT

A bin unit for the eye catching and protective bulk display of commodities for sale and consisting of a substantially semispherical plastic receptacle having a transparent dome of complementary substantially semi-spherical shape openable from the receptacle and when closed onto the latter together providing a container of generally spherical form, the dome having openings spaced around its side for manual access into the interior of the bin for self service withdrawal of commodities therefrom, the unit including a stand having an upper opening in which the receptacle freely seats.

United States Patent Pegg [54] BULK DISPLAY SELF SERVICE BIN UNIT [72] Inventor:

Coventry, Warwickshire, England 22 Filed: July 25,1969

21 Appl.N0.: 844,899

[52] U.S. Cl ..206/45.34, 220/4 E, 248/153 [51] Int. Cl .3651! 25/00 [58] Field of Search ..206/45.34, 45.31, 44 M, 44 K;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,269,578 8/1966 Lewis ..220/4 E 3,557,945 1/1971 Gourio..... .206/45.34 3,043,465 7/1962 l-lorner ..220/5 A Frank Raymond Pegg, 4. Holbrook Lane,

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 Taub ..206/45.31 Schmidt "229/8 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-J. M. Caskie AttorneyWatsOn, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A bin unit for the eye catching and protective bulk display of commodities for sale and consisting of a substantially semispherical plastic receptacle having a transparent dome of complementary substantially semi-spherical shape openable from the receptacle and when closed onto the latter together providing a container of generally spherical form, the dome having openings spaced around its side for manual access into the interior of the bin for self service withdrawal of commodities therefrom, the unit including a stand having an upper opening in which the receptacle freely seats.

1 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented Mmh 21, 1 972 3,650,384

INVENTOE FRANK EA MGND Pecc ATTORNEY BULK DISPLAY SELF SERVICE BIN UNIT This invention relates to bulk display self service bins or tumble bins, that is to say bins or containers in which goods such as tinned or packaged food, confectionery or other commodities are placed or tipped for self service sale e.g., as a bargain offer in a supermarket or similar retail establishment.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved tumble bin unit having a number of practical advantages in the display and sale of goods and which especially is of eye catching attractive and novel appearance for the purpose.

In a practical embodiment of the invention the construction and arrangement is as follows reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of the container or tumble bin shown mounted on a stand and FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view of a joint employed in the construction of the bin.

The container or bin 1 is shown constructed entirely of transparent material such as Perspex or other suitable plastics material and is of two part construction consisting of a lower receptacle 2 and an upper part or dome 3. For this purpose and also to give the bin an attractive appearance it is of spherical or similar (e.g., ovoid) shape in which each part 2,3 is of complementary semi spherical form or thereabouts.

The upper part or dome 3 of the bin is provided with several openings 4 of sufficient size for enabling a shopper or other person to reach into the container for picking up and withdrawing one or more articles therefrom as clearly visible in the bin 1.

Whereas the bin 1 may be filled with articles through the openings 4 the upper part or dome 3 is desirably readily. detachable from the lower receptacle 2 so that the bin may be opened for quick filling and for cleaning purposes. The dome 3 and receptacle 2 are shown outwardly flanged at 3a,2a respectively at their lower and upper rims for securing together e.g., by screws 5 (FIG. 2). For a neat appearance the flanging 20,30 is shown receiving a channelled ring 6 which is plated or otherwise decoratively finished to provide embellishment to the bin 1.

The lower part or receptacle 2 is shown freely seating in an opening provided by a stand 7 which stand consists of a ring 8 for the purpose supported on mutually inclined legs 9 which latter are secured to a base or lower ring 10 of larger diameter than the upper ring for rigidity and stability.

The dome 3 may conveniently carry an upstanding holder as at 11 for a ticket or sales card for display in conjunction with the articles on sale or available in the bin 1.

The transparent spherical or similar form of the bin 1 gives it an eye catching appearance for the display and sale of articles in bulk quantity such as canned .or packaged food and various other commodities including smaller articles of clothing, haberdashery, hardware and the like. The fonn of the bin has especial "space age" appeal to children for the display and sale of confectionery ortoys.

In addition the fact that the bin 1 is substantially enclosed (apart from the access openings 4) enables the goods on sale to be kept in a clean condition and of fresh appearance for sale while the exterior and the interior of the bin 1 and the edges of the access openings 4 can be of smooth form free of sharp edges so that the likelihood of injury to a shopper or damage to his or her clothing by the bin is virtually avoided.

I claim:

1. A bin unit for the protective bulk display and self-service selection of commodities comprising a lower substantially semispherical receptacle of plastic material having an outwardly directed upper rim flange; an upper dome removable from the receptacle and having an outwardly directed lower rim flange detachably secured by screws to the flange of the receptacle when the dome is closed thereon so that the receptacle and dome together provide a container of generally spherical form, the dome being provided with a plurality of openings spaced around its side, each openin bein of sufficient size for the easy passage of a han an forearm therethrough in readily gaining manual access into the interior of the dome and the receptacle for the self-service withdrawal of commodities therefrom; a channelled embellishment ring which is engaged about the flanges of the receptacle and dome when closed together, and a stand having an upper opening in which the lower substantially semispherical receptacle freely seats. 

1. A bin unit for the protective bulk display and self-service selection of commodities comprising a lower substantially semispherical receptacle of plastic material having an outwardly directed upper rim flange; an upper dome removable from the receptacle and having an outwardly directed lower rim flange detachably secured by screws to the flange of the receptacle when the dome is closed thereon so that the receptacle and dome together provide a container of generally spherical form, the dome being provided with a plurality of openings spaced around its side, each opening being of sufficient size for the easy passage of a hand and forearm therethrough in readily gaining manual access into the interior of the dome and the receptacle for the self-service withdrawal of commodities therefrom; a channelled embellishment ring which is engaged about the flanges of the receptacle and dome when closed together, and a stand having an upper opening in which the lower substantially semispherical receptacle freely seats. 